Entertainment District BIA introduces best practices to nightlife businesses; BIA members to roll-out document with help from resident and enforcment groups

Guidelines another step in progressive self-management of nightlife for
    Toronto Entertainment DistrictTORONTO, July 28 /CNW/ - Today, the Entertainment District Business
Improvement Area (BIA) announced the completion of their nightlife
establishment best practices guidelines. Created in collaboration with the
City of Toronto, enforcement agencies, local residents and nightlife business
owners, the guidelines attempt to introduce a "best-in-class" approach to
managing nightlife establishments and further encourage the creation of
responsible and safe nightlife entertainment across Toronto's most vibrant
neighbourhood.
    The follow-up to the BIA's March workshop on nightlife held at CIRCA
nightclub, the best practices guidelines will now be rolled-out across the
Entertainment District in coordination with participating stakeholders. The
document - to be used in conjunction to ongoing monthly stakeholder meetings
held by the BIA - has been modeled after similarly successful guidelines used
in New York, San Francisco and Vancouver and comes on the heels of the June
Responsible Hospitality Institute Conference on Nightlife hosted in Toronto by
the Entertainment District BIA.
    "This process demonstrates tremendous leadership by the Entertainment
District BIA and brings us closer to restoring vitality and vibrancy to
nightlife in the area," said Don Rodbard, director and co-founder,
King-Spadina Residents Association (KSRA). "The establishments that have
participated in this process have demonstrated their commitment to being
responsible operators, and while the implementation of the document will take
time, it is an encouraging step forward - one that the KSRA fully endorses."
    The BIA, together with the BIA Safe Streets Committee and nightlife
operators developed the nightlife best practices over a four-month period in
consultation with Toronto Police Services, Alcohol and Gaming Commission of
Ontario (AGCO), the City of Toronto, Toronto Fire Services and the KSRA.
    "This document is about giving nightlife establishment operators more
tools to safely and profitably operate their businesses so that they may
assist in managing all stakeholder concerns - inside and outside nightlife
owned premises across the Entertainment District," added Janice Solomon,
executive director, Toronto Entertainment District BIA. "Similar to the pass
or fail card that is posted in the City's restaurant windows, as this document
is progressively delivered to our membership, we'd one day like to see a
sticker in the windows of the Entertainment District's nightlife businesses so
that patrons who visit know they are supporting responsible operators and are
in a safe environment where they can be entertained and enjoy themselves."
    The nightlife establishment best practices is expected to reach owners
and operators across the Entertainment District over the next four months.
Street-team and online distribution as well as formal information session held
by the AGCO for nightlife operators will be part of the roll-out strategy.

    About the Entertainment District Business Improvement Area

    Established in 2008, the Toronto Entertainment District Business
Improvement Area's (BIA) mandate is to promote, improve, and preserve this
dynamic area of Toronto. Benefiting from economic, environmental and social
factors driving downtown growth, the Entertainment District is in the midst of
a renaissance, firmly establishing itself as a thriving and vibrant district
for living, creating, working and entertainment.
    The Entertainment District is comprised of some of the country's most
nationally and internationally recognized businesses and culturally
significant organizations, including: the CN Tower, the Royal Alexandra
Theatre, the Princess of Wales Theatre, the Rogers Centre, the Toronto Blue
Jays, the Air Canada Centre, the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Toronto Raptors, the
Toronto Rock, the Metro Toronto Convention Centre, Roy Thomson Hall, the
Toronto Symphony Orchestra, CTV, CBC, NFB, the Four Season's Centre for the
Performing Arts, the National Ballet of Canada, the Canadian Opera Company and
the Bell Lightbox (soon to be located at King & John).

For further information: or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Mansfield Communications on behalf of the Entertainment District BIA: Mark
Cohen, [phone] x 240, [e-mail]; Toronto Entertainment District
Business Improvement Area Contact: Janice Solomon, Executive Director, (416)
926-1337, [e-mail]